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You’ve already been through it in your mind so many times, not only the techniques you are going to use to beat your Class A rivals but also the demon move you will make to pip Dick Trevett to the line in his Class C car.
And then there is the interview. What are you going to say to the commentator? “I don’t want to sound too cocky and I’m sure these guys will be able to find some pace at future meetings to offer me a good race...”
But before all the acolades you need to get yoursef and your car to the circuit, get a grid position during practice and get to the race grid in time to ‘show them all’.
My limited experince of racing this season has shown me that motor racing consists of quite a lot of hanging around interspersed with moments of panic just before practice and then the huge adrenalin rush of being out on the circuit. This is then repeated between practice and the race.
It will make your first race meeting a lot more enjoyable if you are aware of exactly how the day runs and give yourself as much breathing space as possible. You will then be in a position like the old hands who somehow manage to find time to sit down and have lunch and even clean their cars between practice and the race!
To highlight this point the two front running Class A cars had problems at the last Silverstone meeting, There was no panic around Iain Patersons’ car when a head gasket needed changing during the interval and Paul Ashton didn’t seem too concerned about having to drive back home to Milton Keynes to pick up the new rocker shaft that he needed to win the race.
The Checklist
Get to the circuit in good time, preferably the evening before. If nothing else, if you are as bad as me with a trailer you won’t make a fool of yourself trying to reverse into the last spot.
Signing On. You will need to have your licence and club membership card with you. Get this done as early as possible before the queues start.
Transponder. If you are hiring a timing transponderfrom MST go and get it while you are over at race control. They will usuually be setting up their equipment in the timing office from around 8.00 am. You can also buy a transponder from MST and fit it permenantly which causes less hassle and works out the cheaper option over a full season.
Scrutineering. The final instructions that you will have received will tell you when our slot for scrutineering is. Although you will have made all the checks listed earlier and hopefully everything will be okay, get there early just in case there is a problem.
Drivers Breifing. During your first season at least you will have to attend a drivers breifing before practicing at any circuit you have not raced at. You have to sign a sheet to confirm that you have attended, if you don’t, you won’t race so make sure you know when and where these are held and don’t miss it. It is also possible that there will be a general drivers briefing between practice and racing such as at Castle Combe, there will usually be a spot check at the end of this briefing to make sure all are present, so make sure you are there.
Don’t forget the fuel. There maybe the hint of a personal reminder here (Mallory Park practice in August) but in all the excitment it is easy to forget the most obvious thing.
Collection Area. The call on the public address system always seems to arrive ages before you are due to go out on track, but you never know the session before might be cut short for some reason or other so get over there as soon as you are called.
Enjoy yourself. Above all go out and enjoy yourself, if you have any problems during the day do not hesitate to ask any of the other racers, Metro Cup racing is friendly championship and although I can assure you that none of them will help you go faster and beat them, they will do their very best to get you out on the track.
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